An immunogenic composition capable of producing a respiratory syncytial
(RS) virus specific immune response in a host immunized therewith
comprises purified, inactivated RS virus which is substantially free from
cellular and serum components and which is non-infectious,
non-immunopotentiating, immunogenic and protective. The virus is grown on
a vaccine quality cell line and harvested virus is purified under
non-denaturing conditions to be substantially free from cellular and serum
components. The purified RS virus is inactivated using
.beta.-propiolactone, a non-ionic detergent, particularly
n-octyl-.alpha.-D-glucopyranoside and n-octyl-.beta.D-glucopyranoside, or
ascorbic acid. The immunogenic composition may be formulated as a vaccine
for in vivo administration to a human host. The immunogenic composition
also may be used in diagnostic applications.
